About Avon Fire Authority

Avon Fire Authority (AFA) provides Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS). 
AFA consists of councillors appointed by the four councils in the former Avon area. The numbers are chosen in proportion to the number of people entitled to vote in their respective areas:

Bath & North East Somerset: Four members

Bristol: Ten Members

North Somerset: Five members

South Gloucestershire: Six members

Find out who the Avon Fire Authority members are.

AFA was established in 1996 after the County Council of Avon was abolished. This had previously provided the fire and rescue service in our area. 

AFA owns the land, buildings, vehicles and equipment used by the fire and rescue service and employs the staff.

What do we do?

Avon Fire Authority (AFA) is responsible for all non-operational matters, for example:

- The AFA makes informed decisions about matters concerning Avon Fire & Rescue Service.
- The AFA approves AF&RS's budget and ensures that it receives sufficient money from local council tax.
- The AFA monitors the service’s performance to ensure it is efficient, effective and economic.
- The AFA  appoints the following positions:
          - Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive
          - Clerk to the Fire Authority
          - Treasurer to the Fire Authority
          - Principal Officers
- The AFA acts as the final level of appeal in employee disciplinary and grievance procedures.

The Principal Officers are:

Kevin Pearson is the Chief Fire Officer for Avon Fire & Rescue Service. He is the AFA's Chief Executive and principal policy adviser. 

Geraldine Gee is the Clerk to the AFA. She is the AFA's Monitoring Officer  and ensures that the AFA keeps within the law. She also acts as legal advisor to the AFA and Service Management Team.

Malcolm Shorney is the Treasurer to the AFA. He is the Chief Financial Officer of the AFA and responsible for the administration of the AFA’s financial affairs to ensure that the AFA keeps within its budget. 

The AFA also appoints these positions:
Deputy Chief Fire Officer
Assistant Chief Fire Officer
Assistant Chief Officer